Bad Girls - The Musical

Synopsis

Set in the fictional H.M.P. Larkhall, it’s the story of new idealistic wing governor Helen Stewart and her battles with the entrenched old guard of officer Jim Fenner and his sidekick Sylvia 'Bodybag' Hollamby. It also follows the love story that develops between Helen and charismatic inmate Nikki Wade. Other featured characters include Shell Dockley and her runner Denny Blood, old-timer Noreen Biggs, the two Julies and the ultimate top dog, king-of-gangland’s missus, Yvonne Atkins. A tragic death on the wing - in which Jim Fenner is implicated - leads to an angry protest from the women and forces Helen and Nikki to their opposite sides of the bars. But when it’s clear that Helen stands to lose her job over Jim Fenner's misdeeds, the race is on for the women to nail Jim once and for all.

Our Review:

7 June 2006

Maureen Chadwick and Ann McManus, creators of Bad Girls, both as a television series and in this stage musical incarnation, aim to place their show in “the old tradition of musical comedy…with a rich combination of ballads, showtime numbers and character songs.” In this they undoubtedly succeed, the comic duets and production numbers generally more memorable than the confessional songs and let’s-face-the-world anthems.

The only drawback with a pacy, highly entertaining production is the writers’ intention to deal with “contemporary problems”. So long as Bad Girls inhabits its own fantasy world, it’s a delight, but the treatment of prison bullying, rape and riot, for instance, is just too glib. Predatory prison officer Jim Fenner (Hal Fowler) becomes a cheerful chancer, half of a delightfully dead-pan song and dance duo with Officer Hollamby (the excellent Rachel Izen), so the rape and suicide of Rachel Hicks disturbs for the wrong reasons, des...

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Latest User Review

193.37.180.5) - 3 July 2006:

If 'Bad Girls:The Musical' is anything to go by then the future of British musical theatre looks much more rosy than many people like to predict. Having never seen the TV show I was unsure as to what exactly to expect. The show is a revelation, and as mentioned in other reviews, cast to perfection. Hal Fowler makes a truely wonderful Fennan, as is given two absolutly fantastic songs - the showstopping duet'Jailcraft'and a song sung immedietly before he rapes a prisoner which in its construction, has an air of sondheim about it. Fowler is able to convey the slimy evil prisoner officer perfectly by not allowing us to like the character too-much by subtely reminding us his sinsiter nature. Most of the songs are witty and original. This show deserves a dcent west-end run - but needs to find the right theatre to do it in. The second half is also slightly weaker than the first, and some slight tinkering may be in need. However this show is a refreshing change to the tribute shows and revivals which seem to be flooding the scene. The other factor which may delay a transfer could be Hannah Waddingham's commitment to Spamalot should they want her to reprise her role as Nikki - which would be a wise thing. With so many musicals opening in 2006 (and many of them big-budget high profile shows), it may be a smart move to wait until 2007. If this is the case, the West End could find out in 2007 what West Yorkshire has found out in 2006 - Bad Girls The Musical is a thoroughly enjoyable piece of original theatre, and a splendid night out. ...

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